Midwifery First Year of Practice

All new graduate midwives must complete the New Zealand Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme. This programme is administered by the New Zealand College of Midwives under contract to the government.

The Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme

This is a compulsory national programme for all New Zealand registered midwifery graduates, irrespective of where they work. The New Zealand College of Midwives is contracted by Health Workforce New Zealand to provide the programme nationally in accordance with the Programme Specification.

The Council will require evidence that a new graduate is enrolled in the programme and that it has been successfully completed in a timely fashion.

It is expected that new graduate midwives will enter into midwifery practice immediately or shortly after graduation. This is considered necessary to consolidate and build on the learning outcomes of their pre-registration midwifery programme. Midwives who do not enter into practice within six months of completing their midwifery qualification will most likely be required to undertake a competence assessment process to determine the state of their midwifery skills before a practising certificate will be granted.

For the same reason a midwife who ceases practice without completing 12 months practice after graduation may also be subject to a competence review before any further practising certificates will be issued, plus any implications following on from an uncompleted Midwifery First Year of Practice Programme. These are separate matters from the Council's return to practice requirements.

This is a compulsory national programme for all New Zealand registered midwifery graduates, irrespective of where they work. The New Zealand College of Midwives is contracted by Health Workforce New Zealand to provide the programme nationally in accordance with the Programme Specification.

“Midwifery graduates enthusiastically commence their careers: well-supported, safe, skilled and confident in their practice; meeting the needs of maternity service consumers, providers and communities.”